Traction treatment device



Aug. 9, 1955 F. M. UHLAND TRACTION TREATMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet I 1Filed Jan. 29, 1954 R w n .m $.M fia M d W V.

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Aug. 9, 1955 F. M. UHLAND TRACTION TREATMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Jan. 29, 1954 F /0 ya M Uhland INVENTOR.

United States Patent TRACTION TREATMENT DEVICE Floyd M. Uhland, LongBeach, Calif. Application January 29, 1954, Serial No. 406,933 Claims.(Cl. 128 -75) variable and determinable amount of traction upon apatient without the necessity of maintaining a supply of weights.

The construction of this invention features means for adjusting thelever arm about which a single weight may be utilized to vary thetractive force applied on a patient.

Further, means are provided for adjusting the device in a simple andconvenient manner to the height of the patient.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in theprovision of a traction treatment device that is strong and durable,simple in construction and manufacture, formed from a minimum number ofparts, which can be readily transported from one location to another, orwhich may optionally be associated with a bed or like supportingstructure, which includes means for supporting the weight when it isdesired to adjust the device, yet which is inexpensive to manufacture,thereby enabling wide distribution to hospitals and like institutions.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of thisinvention which will become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by this traction treatment device, preferredembodiments of which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings,by way of example only, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a traction treatment device comprisingthe present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view illustrating theconstruction of the housing for the weight and the means for supportingthe weight during adjustment of the device;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational View of the substantially L-shapedmember and the associated slides forming important elements of theinvention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view as taken along the plane of line44 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a modified form of the inventionadapted to be associated with a hospital bed, with parts thereof beingbroken away for greater detail;

Figure 6 is an enlarged front elevational view of the means for mountingthe pulley on the supporting arm of the device; and

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional detail view as taken along the plane ofline 7--7 in Figure 6.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein likereference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,and with initial attention directed to the embodiment of the inventionas is shown in Figures 1 through 4, it will be noted that there isprovided a standard 10 which rises from a base 12 in the form of a stoolhaving an enlarged horizontal support member 14 to which rollers orcasters 16 are attached, the rollers 16 being especially adapted to beutilized in moving the traction treatment device from one location toanother by merely tilting the device back onto the rollers and thenpushing it along the floor or other supporting surface.

A preferably upwardly and outwardly extending supporting arm 18preferably integral with the standard 10 is provided and has a slot 20within which the pulley 22 is mounted. A pair of spaced ear members 24and 26 are secured to the standard 10 and extend upwardly and in theopposite direction from the arm 18. Pivotally mounted between the earmembers 24 and 26 is a substantially L-shaped member 28 having asubstantially horizontal lever arm 30 and a vertical arm 32.

There is slidably adjustably secured on the horizontal lever arm 30 aslide 34 which is lockingly held in a selected position by means of afastener 36. An eye member 38 is integrally formed with the slide 34 andone end of a cable 40 is attached to the eye member 38. The other end ofthe cable 40 has a weight 42 secured thereto. The Weight 42 is securedwithin a housing 44 of tubular shape which is welded or otherwisesecured to the standard 10. A pulley 46 is suitably mounted on thestandard 10, and the cable 40 is entrained about the pulley.

Means are provided for supporting the weight 42 when it is desired toadjust the traction treatment device. A slot 48 is formed in the housing44 and by means of a bracket 50, a substantially L-shaped stop member 52is pivotally mounted on the housing 44. The L-shaped member 52 hasoneleg 54 of less length than the slot 48, While the leg 56 is longer thanthe slot 48. Hence, when it is desired to support the weight 42, it ismerely necessary to pivot the stop member 52 inwardly so that the weightwill engage the leg 54 whille the leg 56 will engage the housing 44.However, as soon as the weight 42 is raised somewhat, the leg 54 may bepivotally removed through the slot 48 and thence the Weight 42 can passdownwardly below the slot 48.

Slidably adjustably secured by means of a fastener 58 is a slide 60. Theslide 60 is adapted to adjustably secure one end of a cable 62 to thevertical arm 32. The other end of the cable 62 is entrained about thepulley 22, and passes through the slot 20. The cable 62 has appendedthereto a spring-type scale 64 having a hook 66 depending therefrom.Hence, when the hook 66 is attached to the portion of the patientrequiring traction and the weight 42 released, the amount of tractionwill be directly readable on the scale 64. Further, upon adjustment ofthe slide 34 relative to the lever arm 30, the effective force appliedon the patient can be adjusted.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 5through 7, it will be noted that herein the standard 70 is of tubularconfiguration and has secured thereon a plate 72 to which an L-shapedmember '74 similar to the L-shaped member 28 is pivotally attached.Mounted on the horizontal lever arm 76 of the L-shaped member 74 is aslide 78 having an eye member 80 to which one end of a cable 82 isattached. The cable is entrained about a pulley wheel 84 carried by thestandard 70 and another pulley wheel 86 carried by the plate 72. Aweight 88 received within the tubular standard 70 which thus forms ahousing for the weight 88 is attached to the other end of the cable 82.A slot 90 is formed in the standard 70 and an L-shaped member 92 havingone leg 94 of longer length than the slot 90 while the other leg 96 isshorter than the slot 90, is provided for selectively supporting theweight 88.

A supporting arm 98 is attached to the standard 70 and carried by thesupporting arm 98 and adjustable relative thereto by means of a ball andsocket joint 100 is a mounting plate 102 for a pulley wheel 104. Thevertical arm 106 of the L-shaped member 74 has a slide 108 adjustablysecured thereto which is provided for adjusting the cable 110 which isentrained about the pulley 104 and which has appended thereto a scalesimilar to the scale 64 and a hook similar to the hook 66.

The standard 70 is adapted to be secured to the head or foot stand of abed by means of a clamp 112.

In use, the modified form of the invention is operated in substantiallythe same manner as the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 through4. The position of the slide 78 determines the lever arm or the weight88 and thus determines the amount of tractive force which will beapplied upon the cable 110 and hence upon the patient.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A therapeutic appliance for applying traction comprising a standardhaving a supporting arm, a first pulley carried by said supporting arm,a substantially L-shaped member having a horizontal lever arm and avertical arm, means pivotally mounting said L-shaped member on saidstandard, a second pulley carried by said standard, a first slideadjustably positioned on said horizontal lever arm, afirst cable havinga weight appended thereto secured to said slide and entrained about saidsecond pulley, a second slide adjustably secured on said vertical arm, asecond cable adjustably engaged by said second slide and entrained aboutsaid first pulley, and a spring scale secured to said second cable.

2. A therapeutic appliance for applying traction comprising a standardhaving a supporting arm, a first pulley carried by said supporting arm,a substantially L-shaped member having a horizontal lever arm and avertical arm, means pivotally mounting said L-shaped member on saidstandard, a second pulley carried by said standard, a first slideadjustably positioned on said horizontal lever arm, a first cable havinga weight appended thereto secured to said slide and entrained about saidsecond pulley, a second slide adjustably secured on said vertical arm, asecond cable adjustably engaged by said second slide and entrained aboutsaid first pulley, and a spring scale secured to said second cable, abase, said standard rising from said base, a tubular housing for saidweight secured to said standard, and means pivotally attached to saidhousing for supporting said weight during adjustment of said first slideand said second slide.

3. A therapeutic appliance for applying traction comprising a standardhaving a supporting arm, a first pulley carried by said supporting arm,a substantially L-shaped member having a horizontal lever arm and avertical arm,

means pivotally mounting said L-shaped member on said standard, a secondpulley carried by said standard, a first slide adjustably positioned onsaid horizontal lever arm, a first cable having a weight appendedthereto secured to said slide and entrained about said second pulley, asecond slide adjustably secured on said vertical arm, a second cableadjustably engaged by said second slide and entrained about said firstpulley, and a spring scale secured to said second cable, said firstpulley being mounted by ball and socket joint on said supporting arm,said standard being of tubular construction and forming a tubularhousing for said weight, and means pivotally attached to said housingfor supporting said weight during adjustment of said first slide andsaid second slide.

4. A therapeutic appliance for applying traction comprising a standardhaving a supporting arm, a first pulley carried by said supporting arm,a substantially L-shaped member having a horizontal lever arm and avertical arm, means pivotally mounting said L-shaped member on saidstandard, a second pulley carried by said standard, a first slideadjustably positioned on said horizontal lever arm, a first cable havinga weight secured to said standard appended thereto secured to said slideand entrained about said second pulley, a second slide adjustablysecured on said vertical arm, a second cable adjustably engaged by saidsecond slide and entrained about said first pulley, and a spring scalesecured to said second cable, a tubular housing for said weight, andmeans pivotally attached to said housing for supporting said weightduring adjustment of said first slide and said second slide, a slot insaid housing, said last means including a substantially L-shaped stopmember having a pair of legs extending normal to each other, one of saidlegs being longer than said slot, the other of said legs being shorterthan said slot.

5. A therapeutic appliance for applying traction comprising a standardhaving a supporting arm, a first pulley carried by said supporting arm,a substantially L-shaped member having a horizontal lever arm and avertical arm, means pivotally mounting said L-shaped member on saidstandard, a second pulley carried by said standard, a firstslide'adjustably positioned on said horizontal lever arm, a first cablehaving a weight appended thereto secured to said slide and entrainedabout said second pulley, a second slide adjustably secured on saidvertical arm, a second cable adjustably engaged by said second slide andentrained about said first pulley, and a spring scale secured to saidsecond cable, said first pulley being mounted by ball and socket jointon said supporting arm, said standard being of tubular construction andforming a tubular housing for said weight, and means pivotally attachedto said housing for supporting said weight during adjustment of saidfirst slide and said second slide,

a a slot in said housing, said last means including a sub stantiallyL-shaped stop member having a pair of legs extending normal to eachother, one of said legs being longer than said slot, the other of saidlegs being shorter than said slot.

Siebrandt Mar. 4,1919 Haskell Nov. 10, 1953

